Category: Rheumatology

Specialty: Rheumatology

Rheumatologists Worldwide Pulling Together in Face of Coronavirus Pandemic

Rheumatologists have a critical role to play in optimizing the response to COVID-19 and outcomes for our patients with rheumatic diseases. In just the past few weeks, rheumatologists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and around the world have joined forces for this purpose.

“I’ve been very impressed by how quickly the rheumatology community has come together,” said rheumatologist Susan Y. Ritter, MD, PhD, associate medical director of the Brigham’s Arthritis Center. “I’ve seen multiple people communicating via email, Twitter and Facebook to get the word out to rheumatologists and make sure we have as much data as possible.” Read More

ACR President Ellen Gravallese, MD, on the Organization’s Response to COVID-19

Last fall, Ellen M. Gravallese, MD, was named chief of the Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and president of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). In these roles, she is overseeing the response of the division and the ACR to the alarming spread of the novel coronavirus.

“The ACR has taken a very proactive stance to try to address COVID-19,” Dr. Gravallese said. “We understand how difficult this pandemic has been for rheumatologists in caring and making the best decisions for their patients while at the same time limiting community exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus as much as possible. We hope the work we are doing at the ACR will provide immediate assistance to physicians in these efforts.” Read More

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Rheumatologists Shine at ACR’s Annual Meeting

five people posing for a picture

The Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital was well-represented among the presenters, moderators and award recipients at the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR’s) annual meeting, held in November in Atlanta.

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Clinical and Basic Research From the Brigham Highlighted at Annual ACR Meeting

illustration of organs and cellsThis November, members of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity presented several groundbreaking studies at the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR’s) annual meeting in Atlanta.

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Genomic Research Connects Juvenile and Adult Forms of Arthritis

Traditionally, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has been considered a distinct condition from the types of arthritis seen in adults. But increasingly, research is showing that juvenile and adult forms of arthritis represent a continuum.
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Research Adds to Arsenal of Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chemist at work in laboratory.

Beginning with methotrexate in the mid-1980s, clinical investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have led the development of a number of drugs for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thanks to methotrexate and additional progress in the decades since it was approved, the majority of people with RA now experience effective disease management.

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Novel Initiatives Address Complexities in Treating Rheumatic Diseases

Doctor consulting with patient presenting results on digital tablet tablet sitting at table

There are many challenges to treating autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Brigham and Women’s Hospital has recently undertaken a number of new initiatives to address some of these challenges and improve patient care.

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Gravallese Tabbed to Head the Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity

Dr. Ellen Gravallese

Brigham and Women’s Hospital welcomes Ellen M. Gravallese, MD, as the new chief of the Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity. Dr. Gravallese has a long list of accomplishments in her career as a rheumatologist, immunologist and basic scientist.

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Risk for Developing RA-ILD May Be Predicted by RA Disease Activity, Prospective Study Suggests

RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is one of the most common extra-articular manifestations of RA and is correlated with increased mortality. We recently performed a study investigating disease activity and RA-ILD risk using the Brigham RA Sequential Study (BRASS), which has followed more than 1,500 patients over time, some for up to 15 years, and has generated a wealth of clinical and biomarker data.

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Major Toxicity Risk Score Among NSAID Users May Help Identify Patients at Risk

Patients with RA and OA all experience chronic pain, but safe options for analgesia are limited. While NSAIDs (selective and non-selective) are commonly used in rheumatology, they can cause major toxicity. Improving the risk/benefit ratio requires a more precise understanding of risk. This study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatology,  was undertaken to derive and validate a risk score for major toxicity among NSAID users enrolled in a prior randomized controlled trial.
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